Phonograph



Feb. 17, 1953 c. B. DALE 2,628,845 1 PHONOGRAPH Original Filed Dec. 15,1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 17, 1953 c. B. DALE 2,628,845

PHONOGRAPH Original Filed Dec. 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet z Ef 165 j 5] 4636 IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 17, 1953 E 2,628,845

PHONOGRAPH Original Filed Dec. 15, 1949 4 SheetsSheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

C. B. DALE PHONOGRAPH Feb. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec.15, 1949 INVENTOR. 60, 12? E Zkzie BY Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE PHONOGRAPH Colin B. Dale, Oak Park, Ill., assignorto Webster- Chicago Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Original application December 15, 1949, Serial No. 133,168.Divided and this application January 13, 1950, Serial No. 138,474

2 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improvedconstruction and arrangement of the several parts of and operatingmechamsms for a phonograph; to provide for the tone arm of thephonograph an improved form and mounting ation of the record-releasemeans to permit suc- 'cessive playing of a plurality of records; and toprovide an improved form of record-changing phonograph in which thevarious parts of each mechanism are so combined, and the severalvmechanisms are so coordinated, as to make it that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view thereof, a part of the tone arm beinbroken away so as to more clearly illustrate the arrangement of thecounterbalancing weight therefor;

Fig; 4 is an enlarged under side view of the turntable, showing thethree tracks of the cam for the tone arm retracting and record-releaseactuating mechanism, and by arrows diagramming the path of the cam trackfollower which effects a lifting of the tone arm and its return to,

and resetting at, starting position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View of the several operating mechanisms intheir normally inoperative positions, as viewed from the plane of line5-5 of Fig. 3, immediately prior to the placing of the tone arm inposition for reproducing a record;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the 7 rear end of thetone arm showing the relative positions of the counterweight and therelated parts at the instant the counterweight becomes effective orineffective in counterbalancing the 7 weight of the tone arm;

Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional detail, taken on line of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 which is a view similar to Fig. 6 shows the relative positions ofthe counterweight and the related par-ts when the outer end of the tonearm has been elevated and the counterweight has become inefiective as acounterbalance to the tone arm.

A phonograph embodying this invention comprises a support A mounting amotor-driven record-supporting turntable B, a reciprocatingtone-reproducing arm C, and a'record support and release means Dwherewith is associated a speed-changing and switch-actuating mechanismE, a tone arm retracting and record-release actuating mechanism F, and amanually operable record-release actuating means (3 which also serves asa starting means for the phonograph.

Support for the operating mechanism The support A comprises a base 3| inthe form of a plate upon which is arranged all of the mechanism for thepresent phonograph, including a platform 32, a record spindle 33, a tonearm post 34, and a motor 35.

The base 3| herein shown as rectangular is provided with reinforcingflanges 36 along its lateral edges, and with certain struck-out lugs,fingers, shoulders, and certain openings, as will be noted hereinafterin the descriptions of the several mechanisms. At one corner the base 3|suspends a plate 3'} whereto is attached the motor 35. This suspensioninvolves the use of rubber cushions 38 (see Fig. 5) in order to reduceto a minimum the transmission of motor vibrations to therecord-supporting turntable B. Adjacent this suspension of the motorplate 31, the base plate is depressed, as shown at 39, and recessed inorder to better provide for mounting of the turntable drive pulley 40which forms a part of thespeedchange and switch-control mechanism E.

The platform 32 is in the form of a plate supported in spacedrelationship to the base 3| by bolts and nuts 4| and bushings 41.! (seeFigs. 3, 5 and 6). The platform 32 mounts a tone arm rest 42.

The post 34 which mounts the tone arm 0 is rotatably mounted on aU-shaped bracket secured adjacent one corner of the base 3|,and hasassociated therewith a collar 46 and a bushing 41. The collar 46 iskeyed to the post 34 and has headless screws 48 and 49 (see Fig. 5)which abut the opposite edges of the vertical part of the bracket 45 tolimit swinging movement of the tone arm C.

The bushing 4'! holds a feeler arm 50 (forming 'a part of the tone armreturn and record-release actuating mechanism F which is to be describedmore fully hereinafter) in contact with a friction pad 5| resting on thecollar 46, the purpose of the under side of the plate 31 by suitablebolts and nuts 52 (see Figs. 2 and 3) so as to locate the drive shaft 53of the motor 35 in position for contact by the turntable drive pulley41? (see Fig. The drive shaft 53 is formed with an enlargement 54 at itsupper end, preferably by pressing thereon a short section of a Wirespring of suitable diameter and gauge wire. This enlargement and theshaft directly below provide hubs of slightly differing diametersWherewith the'turntabie drive pulley 48 coacts to operate the turntableB at two different speeds.

The turntable turntable B is in the form of a flanged casting mountingonitsunder side a'cam disc 55 .(see Fig. 4) The carnforms a part of thetone arm retractingand" record-release actuating mechanism F. In the hubof the disc is fixed a bushing .56; whereby the' turntable is journaledon the spindle .33. A- suitable covering of friction material,=suchasflock, is'spread over the top and rflfinge of theturntable B so as toensure the holding of a record; in rotative contact therewith.

- *The tone arm I Thetone arm C is in the form ofa light metal castingsomewhat S-shaped (see Fig. l) at the forward end of which is mounted asuitable recording stylus (see Fig. 3). At its rear end is hingedamounting hub 5'! and a counterweight 58., A pin 59 attached to the tonearm C forwardly' of the hub 5'! coa'ctswith' the tone-arm return andrecordqelease' mechanism F to secure -a re turn to starting'positionand' also a reset of the tone arm 6; as willbesubsequentlyexplained.

The mounting hub 51 is keyed to a pin 63 which is journaled' on'a fork6| attached to a bracket 62 secured to the inner rear end of the tonearm C. *To' th'e'bracke't 62 is hinged at'63 an armii l onthejouterend-of which issecured the counterweight-58. A'set screw 65 onthe hub 5'! permits it to' beremovablykeyed' to the 'p'ost3' so as toturn the'rewith.

The counterweight'fifi is'preferablyformed of a heavy metal'suchas lead?It is secured tothe outerj'endof the arm 64 by a screw 68. 'The purpose"of this] counterweight is to counterbalance the weightfof the tone arm"C, forwardly of the pivot'pint; and so lessen the'pressm'e'of therecording stylus on the record.

The pin 59 is threaded onto the brackettz forwardlyof'thepivot 63 ofthearmt i; It is adapted 'to---be-engaged-by the tone arm retracting andthe forl'c-B bby-cone bearings; as most clearly shown in Fig. 8. Thefork E! is attached to the bracketm,'preferably'by a rivet'fifi, andadjacent the pin-60" the fork 6| is'spannedby a screw 6'! which servesto adjust the spacing of the arms of the fork so as to secure thedesired tension on the cone bearings of the pin 60.

*"ThebracketSZ is rigidly secured to the tone arm 0- by a' set screw '69so that the bracket and tonearmare a unit. At its rear end the bracket6-2 has a T-shaped extension the stem part of which extends through andlocates the transverse part under the legs ll of the U-shaped terminusof the arm 64 (see Figs. 6, 7, and 8). Thus, for "all times when the pin59 is not contacted by the tone arm retracting andrecord-releaseactuating mechanism F; the forward end of the tone arm C, as it swingsdown toward the record, elevates the transverse part of the T-extensionHI and brings it intocontaot with the legs 11 of the U-shaped extensionof the arm 6 and thereby makes the counterweight 53 an effectivecounterbalance to the weight of the tone arm C forwardly of the pivotalpin 63.

-Betweenthe arm 64 and the counterweight 5B is inserted a plate '52which has a finger or detent 63 positioned to engage the hub 57 (seeFigs. 6 and 8) when the pin 59 is contacted by the tone arm retractingand record-release actuating mechanism thereby to render thecounterweight 58 inactive. This permits the full weight of the tone armC forwardly of the pivot pin 60 to be effective to hold the pin 59 inoperative relationship with the-tone. armretracting and record-releaseactuating mechanism F. When the tone arm C is iii-reproducingpositionand consequently out of contact with the tone arm retracting andrecord-release actuating 'mechanism E" the finger-i3 is retracted-fromcontact with the hubv t l. (see'Fig. 3) =Ar1 eccentric screw iii-permitsan adjustment of the tone arm to insure the stylus settin down in thepickvup groove at the outer edge of the record.

' The record support and releasemeans The record support and releasemeans Dwhich is fully disclosed in my PatentNo. 2,57 9,175, datedDecember-.18, 1951,. comprises the spindle 33 mounting a shiftingcontrol rod 81 connected to the tone arm return andrecord-releaseactuating mechanism F.

-- 'T he speed-changing" and switch-actuating mechanism Thespeed-changing and switch-actuating mechanism E WhOS details aredisclosed in my Patent No. 2,579,175pf December18,1951, comprises theturntable drive pulley'ec, a current switch- 95 and a crank-shaftHQmounting a dial Hi0, whereby the energizing or tie-energizing of themotor 35 is synchronized with the shifting of the pulley 46 into andoutof engagement with the motor drive shaft'53 orits hub enlargement 54.

The tone arm return and record-release actuatmy mechanism The tone armreturn and record release actuating mechanism'F is"disclosed fully in myPatent No. 2,579,175, dated December .18, 1951. As herein'shown, it'comprisesthe cam disc' '55 on the underside of the turn'table B,atone'arm retracting plate E36, and alrecord-release 'shift ing meansI31. Thesearerespectively actuated by two of the cam tracks formed inthe cam disc 55, as will be presently explained, and where'with theyarev brought into engagement by .the coaction' of a tripper -l38 underthe influence of the feeler 5t controlledfby swingingimovem'ent' ."ofthetone arm C.

' The cam disc"55,. in thispa'rti'cularembodiment, is formed withthe hubcamtracks 'Mll and' M! and a ring cam track I42, respectively-(see Fig.4, constructed to effect (a) a horizontal movement, (b)- a. verticalmovementgand (c') a combination vertical and horizontalmovement. Thecoaction of these partswitli the flipper-I38, the record-releaseshifting means I 37, and the plate I33, accomplishtwo co-ordinatedresults: namely, the return of the toneiarm C to starting position,after ithas completed the reproducing of a record, and the release. of arecord for 1 subsequent reproduction.

The tone arm actuating plate 136 is substantially a bell crank lever,somewhat broadened at its middle part I55. At the opposite sides of thisbroadened part are formed embossments I56 which coact with a pivot pinI51 to so support the plate I36'as to permit its swinging in ahorizontal plane about the vertical axis of the pivot pin I51, and itstilting in a; vertical plane about a shifting horizontal axis whichextends through the points of contact of the embossments I56 on the base3! and a contiguous groove I63.! disposed radially of the plate pivot. Alub I58 on the arm I36 also contacts the base 3I and coacts with theembossments I56 to provide for thiscombination shifting and tiltingmovement of the plate I36 on the base 3I.

The pin I51 extends through an aperture in the plate I 36 slightlylarger than the diameter of the pin I51 so as to permit the tiltingaction and the swinging movement just described. A

spring I59 interposed between the plate I36 and a washer I66 on the pinI51 normally holds the plate I36 with the embossments I56 and the lugI58 in contact with the base 3I, and yieldingly resists the verticaltilting of the plate I36.

Secured at one end of the plate I36 is a cam track follower pin I6I andat the opposite end of this plate is formed an integral arcuate shapedextending arm I62 formed intermediately of its ends with a traverseledge I63. This arcuate arm I62 is adapted to engage the pin 59 toelevate the tone arm C and return it to its starting position, as aresult of the cam follower pin I6I being brought into engagement withthe cam track I42, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

A spring I64 (see Figs. 3 and 5) urges the plate I36 toward its normalor retracted position (see Fig. 5), as limited by stops I65 and I65.I.The spring I64 has one end attached to a lug I66 struck out from theplate I36 and extending downthrough a slot in the base 3I. The other endof, the spring I64 is connected to an ear I61 on the end of one of apair of lugs I69 struck out from thebase 3I, forming a support for therecord-release shifting means I31, presentlyto be described.

The stop I65 is in the form of a finger struck down from the edge of theplate I36 and extending through an opening I69 (formed by the strikingout of the adjacent lug I68 from the base 3I-) and abuts a shoulder I19(see Fig. 5) jutting into said opening I69. The stop I65.I is an anglepiece having one leg secured to the base 3I so that its upright leg iscontacted by the edge of the plate I36 practically simultaneously withthe contact of the finger I65 against the shoulder I19.

. The manually operable record-release actuating means The manuallyoperable record-release actuating means G is disclosed fully in myPatent No. 2,579,175, dated December 18, 1951. As herein shown, itcomprises a right angle bell crank lever I98 mounting on one of its armsa locking pawl I99 and coacting therewith to permit the tripper I38 tobe actuated to effect a release of a record R at any time. If thetripper I38 is not immobilized, the release of a record will beimmediate with a shifting of the lever I98. If, however the tripper I38is immobilized, the bell crank lever I99 will be retained intripper-actuate ing position by the pawl I99 until the tripper I38 hasbeen freed, whereupon the lever I98 will be instantly actuated to effecta release of a record.

Operation The operation of this improved phonograph insofar as itrelates to the functioning of the tone arm counterweight is as follows:

Let it be assumed that a stack of records R, hasbeen placed on thespindle 33. Since none of the mechanisms will operate until theturntable B is rotating, the first step will be to turn the dial I66from the off position to either the 33 or 45 position. This willinitiate rotation of the turntable as disclosed in my Patent No.2,579,175, dated December 18, 1951. Thereupon the plate I36, during itsinward and return swinging movement to efiect release of a record, willlift the tone arm C from its rest 42 and set it in position for thestylus to engage the pickup groove on the outer edge of the record. Asthe tone arm swings into playing position in response to tracking of thestylus on the record, the transverse part of the T-shaped extension 10of the bracket 62- is moved into contact with the legs 1! of theU-shaped terminus of the arm (see Fig. 3). Thereupon the counterweight58 becomes effective to counterbalance the weight of the forward end ofthe tone arm C so as to lighten the pressure of the stylus on therecord.

As the tone arm stylus completes its traverse of the recording groovesand follows the rapidly decreasing spiral inwardly of the recordinggrooves, the feeler 56 which has been swinging concurrently with thetone arm C comes into contact with the finger I96 on the tripper I39. Ifthe cam I93 of the tripper I38 is in contact with the cam quadrant I43,the feeler 59 momentarily will be ineffective to swing the tripper I38on its pivot. However, by reason of the frictional engagement of thefeeler 50 with the tone arm collar 56, the tone arm C will continue itsinward swing, thus holding the feeler 59 in contact with the finger I96until the tripper I38 has been released from the cam quadrant I43.Thereupon the subsequent engagement of the tripper cam I93 by theshoulder I45 will cause the tripper I38 to initiate a swinging of theplate I36 as hereinbefore explained in connection with actuation of themechanism G. If, on the other hand, the feeler 55 contacts the fingerE96 of the tripper I38 when it is not immobilized by the cam quadrantI43, the tripper I38 will be immediately swung on its pivot I92 to bringthe cam end I93 into the path of the shoulder I45. Thereupon the tripperits will be actuated to initiate a swinging of the plate I36, asexplained in my Patent No. 2,579,175 dated December 18, 1951, to enterthe cam track follower I6I into the opening I 48 to the cam track I42.

As the turntable B continues its rotation, the cam track follower I6i onthe plate I36 follows the path indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 whichis an under side view of the turntable cam 55. From this figure it willbe noted that the cam track follower I6I, after about a half revolutionof the turntable B, begins to move spirally inwardly to the innerportion I421 of the cam track I42. As the follower I6I completes itsinward travel the shoulder I84.I on the lever I13 contacts the tripperI68 and restores it to its normal position preparatory to its subsequentactivation to again initiate a shifting of the plate I36 to engage thefollower I61 with the cam track I42.

After I the cam track follower I6I has completed approxtiu'ntable,atone" minto the outer portiomMZrl'jof the cam track M2 toward thedischarge. opening I49.

'iifI'he depression-oi the cam track follower'lfil by the high point" ofthejcam' track 152 causes a rocking of the platei36 on'theembossm'ent's" I55 and 'elevates'lthe,extension Hi2 so as -to contactthe Jpin59 of the tone arm C. As alresult,the

.tonejarm, is tilted to move the stylus outo'f contact with the record].As the camtrack follower i5! moves through the second half oft the innercam track portion 1 32.2, and approaches the section ifii; the plateI36, isrswungi in a. horizontal plane on the 'pin' 157. 'This results inbringing the ledge 153 on the extensioniifiz in contact with the pinfiaion the tone 'arni C." As this extension:

ismoved outwardly, the pin '59 is moved into contact with the ledgeltsiand becomes seated in the groove itiii, As a consequence the tonearm is ,shiftedoutwaidly toward its 'st'artingposition,

and with the return inward movementofthe extension the tone'arm is'swunginto a position for lowering the stylus into contact with the pickupgroove in the record'whemthe extension is retracted from its contact'with.the"pin"59.

"The elevation'of the tone arm (2; incident tOTitST- being returned to.starting position, swings the rear end of the tonearmdownwardly'and'lorings the finger 73 into contact with the hub 51(see Figs. 6 'and 8).' 'The' transverse partof the T- shaped extensioniii of the bracket 62 is thereupon freed of contact with the legs I lofthe U-sha-ped terminus of the arm 6 3. The weight- 58 is consequentlyrendered inactive-as a counterbalance for the tone-arm C, withthe-result that the full weight of the tone arm, forwardly of the hingepin t5, holds thepin 59' in firm contact with the plate extension l 62.

As the cam track follower 16! travels from the inner-portion M22 of thecam track I lZto the outerportion M21, it not only swings the plate tomove the tone arm C inwardly toward the -record, but byv reason oftherecedingcharacter JOfDZhQCEtm13111614142 it permits the spring I59 toexert a pressure to restore the plate I38 toits normal position with thelug i'58 in contactiwith ;the; 'haseiti. .As the :cam track follower.qapproachesthe exit opening I49 of the cam'track in) ISI the tone arm Cis poised in starting position over the recordthathas been released forpositioning onthe turntable as the plate iSfi initiated the elevationand retraction of the tone arm C. As the cam track follower i6! isreleased from the cam disc 55,. the spring Hi9 consummates therestoration of the plate I36 to its normal position and frees the pin 59from the plate extension I62 so that the'tone arm stylus will engage therecord.

' This release of the pin 59 from the plate extension 552 results in arestoration of thecontact'of the transversepart of the T-extension" iii'of the "bracket 82 with the legs II of the U-shapedterminus" of" ie arm5 Thereupon the counterweight 53 is effective as a counterbalance to theweight of the tone arm C forwardly of its support "on "the posted; withthe resultant light contact of the styluswith the record.

'* 'i hesubjece matter hereinclaimed'was first 'ciisolosedin "myapplication filed "December '15,

9-,-'-'Serial--llo. 133,168, of which this-case is a I claim: a 1'. In aphonograph, the combination of a supporting base, a-record-jsupportingturntable jour naledefor rotation' on 'the -base, a motor mounteds onthe-.base and eetable to; rotate the w l t y -mountedzon the base-andsupporting a stylus to traverse a :record on theturntable, meansproviding a hinge for-the tone arm to permit swinging in a 'verticalplane into and out of recording contact -With' a-record, a plate mountedintermediately its ends-on the base to swingin a: horizontal :plane on avertical axis and tiltin a vertical -;,plane on a horizontal axis, a cammember associated with the turntable and having a track adapted to'efiect horizontal and vertical movemerit, a cam track follower on oneend of the .plate adapted to traverse'the cam track to effect r atilting and swingin of the plate, means on the other end' of the plateadapted to engage the tone arm-to elevate the same and carry it.-'ito-'starting position When the plate is tilted and strong as aresult of engagement of the follower "with-the cam track, tripper meansactuated by .uthettone arm as it approaches the limit of its 20:

inward movement to shift the plate to initiate engagement of the camtrack follower with the cam track whereby the plate is 'actuatedby saidcam member to return the-tone arm to starting position, a second armhinged on the tone arm as a counterbalance when the tone arm is engagedby the plate whereby the full weight of I the tone arm forwardly of itshinge operates to hold the tone arm in contact with the plate during thereturn of the tone arm to starting position.

' 2. A. phonograph tone arm 'mounting a recording stylusiatthe outerend, a supporting member whereon the tone. arm is hinged adja- 1- centthe opposite end thereof for movement in aver-tical plane, a second armhinged to the tone arm forwardly and above the hinge conheotion'oi thetonearm tothesupporting memher, aweight fixed on the second armrearwardly :of the tone arm hinge, a shoulder onxthe tone :iarmidisposed vertically under and adapted to control the rear end of thesecond arm'to render the weight effective as a counterbalance when:ithetone arm swings to contact the stylus with the record, anda:downwardly disposed detent on the secondiarm adapted to contact thetone -arm supporting member and render the weight inefiective as acounterbalance'when the tone arm is swung above a predetermined angularposition to remove the stylus from contact with a record. COLIN B DALEREFERENES CITED The following references are of'record in the "file ofthis patent:

, Number Name Date 1,764,957 Jakosky 'June 17,1930 i 2,509,811 Dale May30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 373,795 Great Britain June8, 1932 879,598 France Feb. 26, 1943 71,244 Nor-way Nov. 4, I946

